City’s deputy chief of operations also calling it a career

St. John’s fire Chief Mike Dwyer is retiring to spend more time with his family.

Dwyer’s retirement is effective at the end of May, the chief told The Telegram on Wednesday.

“I’ve got 36 years in public service, 14 going on 15 in this particular position with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, and at some point we all take a change in career, and my change in career will be spending more time with my family, with my wife, travelling,” said Dwyer. “I’ve got projects that I’ve put on the back burner the last number of years. I plan on playing some more golf and plan on spending more time at the cabin.”

Dwyer said he seriously contemplated his decision for a couple of months before making it.

“They say that at some point in time you know when it’s time to move on to other opportunities, and I came to that conclusion,” he said.

Dwyer said a highlight of his career is a 2012 report from the Fire Underwriter’s Survey, an independent organization that audits fire departments for insurance purposes. The department received top grades in its residential and commercial protection, just one of three departments in Canada to do so.

Jerry Peach, the department’s deputy chief of operations, is also retiring, at the end of April.

St. John’s Coun. Danny Breen, chairman of the city’s regional fire services committee, praised the service of both men.

“They both have a longstanding service to the city,” said Breen, who also noted the city’s top marks in the 2012 report. “Deputy chief Peach … he’s certainly the major person involved in firefighting operations. And the director, Mike Dwyer, Mike came to the city when it took over the regional fire department from the province. The true testament to these two gentlemen, and others in the fire department is the report … that said the St. John’s Regional Fire Department had one of the top three fire protection services in the country.”